Court Upholds Adunni Ade’s Right to Privacy in Case Against Naija News
The Lagos State High Court has ruled in favour of Nollywood actress, Adunni Ade in a fundamental human rights suit against Polance Media Limited, publishers of Naija News, over a report that linked her romantically with Senator Dino Melaye.
Justice I.O. Harrison delivered the judgment in suit number LD/177818MFHR/2024, affirming Ade’s right to privacy as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution.
According to court documents obtained by journalists, the case was filed as “In the Matter of an Application by Adunni Adewale for the Enforcement of Her Fundamental Human Right to Privacy as Guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.”
The legal action followed a January 2023 publication on NaijaNews.com titled “Six Popular Nigerian Actresses Who Have Been Accused of Dating Dino Melaye,” which listed Ade among those allegedly linked to the lawmaker.
The actress described the report as “false, misleading, and offensive,” arguing that it misrepresented her private life and was published without her consent to generate online traffic.
She said the story caused emotional distress and violated her constitutional right to privacy.
Announcing her victory in an Instagram post on Tuesday, Ade wrote, “I won my case, a false story was published about me, but the truth stood tall. This judgment reaffirms that privacy matters, and so does integrity. Justice delayed isn’t justice denied.”
She expressed appreciation to her legal counsel, saying, “Many thanks to my lawyer! You worked tirelessly on this case. Olumide Babalola LP, two cases won, a few more to go.”
Ade also suggested that additional defamation cases were pending in court, adding,
“You who are running up and down avoiding court papers, please stand still so you can be served.”
In a separate remark directed at an unnamed colleague, the actress said, “And to you, my fellow actress who told a false story to the Cutie Jules, don’t worry, very soon the world will know the kind of snake you are. Envy and bitterness live and breathe in you. You are deadly! You must have forgotten what you showed me in my room?”
Justice Harrison, in his preamble, explained that the ruling was delivered beyond the constitutionally required three months due to disruptions in court operations following the #EndSARS protests in Lagos.
The judge noted that the delay did not prejudice either party, stating that the court remained “fully abreast of the facts and issues raised in the case” and that “neither party will suffer a miscarriage of justice by reason thereof.”
The judgment represents a major victory for Adunni Ade, who described it as a reaffirmation of “truth and integrity” in protecting her privacy against false online publications.
